Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley

  • Profession: Actress
  • Place/Date of Birth: Teddington, Middlesex, 26 March 2020

Keira, who is being tipped for an Oscar nomination for her role as Cecilia Tallis, wore a silver-grey Rodarte dress, slashed across the front, and a tiara in her hair.

Directed by Joe Wright and adapted from the wartime novel by Ian McEwan, it is being hailed as one of the strongest British films in years.

It is in official competition for the Golden Lion award for best film at the Venice Film Festival and has been warmly received by critics.

The story tells of Cecilia Tallis, an upper class beauty whose fledgling love affair with the housekeeper’s son, played by James McAvoy, is destroyed by a tragic misunderstanding.

James also went over to greet his fans and sign autographs.

Keira said: "I think we are all proud of the whole film, mostly we are proud of Joe Wright, the director."

She said: "I find him an incredibly exciting director, and he’s given me two of the best characters I’ve played."

Asked if she had a preference for any particular kind of role she said: "No, I think the whole point is to change. I’m really lucky and I get the opportunity to change, and you can’t ask for much more than that as an actress."

Asked about her chances of winning an Oscar, she said: "The fact that the film is in the same sentence as the word Oscars means we’ve done a good job already. If it doesn’t get a nomination, it doesn’t take away from how proud I am."

Keira unveils film in Venice - Aug 30 2007
Keira Knightley has unveiled her new movie Atonement as she led the British charge at the Venice Film Festival.

The 22-year-old stars in the adaptation of Ian McEwan’s wartime novel and her performance is already being talked up as Oscar-worthy.

She plays Cecilia Tallis, an upper class beauty whose fledgling love affair with the housekeeper’s son (James McAvoy) is destroyed by a tragic misunderstanding.

Atonement has been chosen as the curtain-raiser for the Venice Film Festival and is being hailed as one of the strongest British films in years. It is in contention for the Golden Lion for best film.

Much has been made of Keira’s slender figure, which she showed off in a figure-hugging navy and white dress.

But the actress insisted that appearances can be deceptive.

"What this film shows is the danger when the line between fiction and fact gets blurred," she said.

"Magazine pictures, for example, are fiction. One person has done the make-up and hair, it’s somebody else’s clothes, it’s choreographed by someone else.

"In the media it’s very important to see different varieties of people - old, young, whatever size. As a woman myself I want to see variety. Hopefully that will happen more."

Keira played down her Oscar chances, saying: "As far as awards go, that’s neither here nor there. Atonement was a complete gift. I read the script and I cried. Any script that makes you cry is worth pursuing."

She said of her screen character: "I fell in love with Cecilia totally and utterly, partly because of the romance. I love a bit of romance."

Keira film to open Venice Festival - Juen 16 2007
Keira Knightley’s new movie Atonement has been chosen to open this year’s Venice Film Festival.

The adaptation of Ian McEwan’s novel, which also stars Vanessa Redgrave and James McAvoy, will be in contention for the Golden Lion.

It is only the second film from young director Joe Wright, 35, whose first was Pride and Prejudice.

"For the first time in its history, the opening film is the work of a young director," said festival boss Marco Muller.

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Biography

Daughter to actors Will Knightley and Sharman MacDonald, Keira was first in a film at the age of 11, in A Village Affair (’94). In ’99 Hollywood knocked on her door with a role in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace as Padme’s double.

She starred in The Princess of Thieves in ’01, and then in Bend It Like Beckham in ’02, where she played the role of a football-obsessed teenager alongside the lead actress Parminder Nagra. Because she had barely touched a football until then, Keira trained intensely for three full months, practicing tricks and ball handling, Brazilian style. As Bend It Like Beckham gained in popularity, so did Keira, making a name for herself.

It was not long before Jerry Bruckheimer, the famous Hollywood producer of blockbusters like Pearl Harbor, chose her for a leading role in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (’03), starring alongside Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom. The Pirates of the Caribbean went on to become a huge international box-office hit, bringing Keira’s fame to an international level.

Her latest appearance is as Guinevere in the new Disney adaptation of King Arthur’s tales. Hollywood seems to have taken a liking to her. As have Glamour magazine’s ’fashion analysts,’ who listed her as the fifth best-dressed female celebrity world-wide (Kate Moss came in number one, but she’s got about a decade of experience under the belt, if nothing else).

December 2007

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